The last battle of the American Indian Wars, The Wounded Knee Massacre, occurred on December 29, 1890. It was on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in Wounded Knee, South Dakota where the Seventh Calvary Regiment killed around 300 men, women, and children of the Lakota Sioux out of the original population of 350. Big Foot, leader of the Miniconjou band, moved his people near the Wouned Knee Creek to avoid any violence that from a neighboring people. The Lakota Ghost Dance 'uprising' had influenced may tribes in the area and Big Foot's people were the mostenthusiastic believers. The United States officials felt threatened by the rituals and feared that it would turn into a violent attack. The soldiers occupied their camp at Wounded Knee Creek and demanded any weapons they had. It is still unclear on how the shooting started, however, the United States soldiers easily overtook the tribeand brutally killed, without strategy.
American Ind
Burial of victims of The Wounded Knee Massacre
ian Relations
The Wounded Knee massacre is a perfect example of the brutality of the United States to Native Americans in the West. Land was being occupied by settlers left and right, and consequently the indigenous people of the West needed to leave. The new presence of the Ghost Dances also provided another reason for the United States government to rid of the Lakota Sioux. The idea of the Native Americans gathering in large spiritual rituals, such as the Ghost Dance, scared military officials into thinking that it would rise to a revolt.
Indian bodies on the ground in Wounded Knee
Controversy
The United States Army awarded eighteen Medals of Honor to the American soldiers who participated in The Battle of the Wounded Knee with citations such as "conspicuous bravery in action against Indians concealed in a ravine." Many Native American activists, including the National Congress of American Indians, have asked for the Medals to be withdrawn as they see them as medal of dishonor.
Today
The American Indian Movement staged a 71-day occupation of the town Wounded Knee, South Dakota on February 27, 1973. It began the longest civil disorder in the history of the United States Marshals Service. The protest was calling for the impeachment of tribal president Richard Wilson, whom was accused of abuse and corruption. They also criticized the United States government's failure to follow through on treaties and had demanded reopenings of negotiations.
Wounded Knee
The last battle of the American Indian Wars, The Wounded Knee Massacre, occurred on December 29, 1890. It was on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in Wounded Knee, South Dakota where the Seventh Calvary Regiment killed around 300 men, women, and children of the Lakota Sioux out of the original population of 350. Big Foot, leader of the Miniconjou band, moved his people near the Wouned Knee Creek to avoid any violence that from a neighboring people. The Lakota Ghost Dance 'uprising' had influenced may tribes in the area and Big Foot's people were the mostenthusiastic believers. The United States officials felt threatened by the rituals and feared that it would turn into a violent attack. The soldiers occupied their camp at Wounded Knee Creek and demanded any weapons they had. It is still unclear on how the shooting started, however, the United States soldiers easily overtook the tribeand brutally killed, without strategy.American Ind
The Wounded Knee massacre is a perfect example of the brutality of the United States to Native Americans in the West. Land was being occupied by settlers left and right, and consequently the indigenous people of the West needed to leave. The new presence of the Ghost Dances also provided another reason for the United States government to rid of the Lakota Sioux. The idea of the Native Americans gathering in large spiritual rituals, such as the Ghost Dance, scared military officials into thinking that it would rise to a revolt.
Controversy
The United States Army awarded eighteen Medals of Honor to the American soldiers who participated in The Battle of the Wounded Knee with citations such as "conspicuous bravery in action against Indians concealed in a ravine." Many Native American activists, including the National Congress of American Indians, have asked for the Medals to be withdrawn as they see them as medal of dishonor.Today
The American Indian Movement staged a 71-day occupation of the town Wounded Knee, South Dakota on February 27, 1973. It began the longest civil disorder in the history of the United States Marshals Service. The protest was calling for the impeachment of tribal president Richard Wilson, whom was accused of abuse and corruption. They also criticized the United States government's failure to follow through on treaties and had demanded reopenings of negotiations.